What is a load-bearing wall?

A load-bearing wall is a wall that, in addition to its own weight, carries other loads such as floors, beams, roofs or walls above. Load-bearing walls are essential to the stability of a building — they transfer the forces through the foundation to the subsoil.

Function of a load-bearing wall

A load-bearing wall has two primary functions:

• Absorbing vertical loads — the weight of floors, roofs, snow and people
• Ensuring stability — preventing the building from swaying under horizontal loads such as wind

Unlike a partition or non-load-bearing wall, a load-bearing wall cannot be removed or breached without significant structural measures.

Applications

• External walls — in masonry or concrete construction, the external walls are almost always load-bearing
• Internal walls — a central internal wall supporting the floor joists is a load-bearing wall
• Cavity wall — in a cavity wall, the inner leaf is usually the load-bearing layer
• Basement walls — resist soil pressure and carry the structure above

Removing a load-bearing wall

If you want to demolish or breach a load-bearing wall, the load must be taken over by, for example, a steel beam or lintel. A structural engineer calculates the required profile size. Always check your building regulations and permit requirements.

Materials

Load-bearing walls are made from:

• Brick or sand-lime block — common in residential construction
• Concrete — for heavier loads and basements
• Timber frame — in timber frame houses, the wall panels form the load-bearing structure
• Aerated concrete or pumice — lighter alternatives with good insulation

Related terms

• Joist-bearing wall
• Non-load-bearing wall
• Lintel
• Foundation
• Cavity wall

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